This certificate provides paralegal education for those students who have already completed an undergraduate degree.

The American Bar Association defines a paralegal as “a person, qualified by education, training or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.”

A paralegal is not licensed to practice law and works under a lawyers' supervision, to manage a variety of tasks, including:

  • Interviewing clients
  • Acquiring factual data
  • Drafting court pleadings and legal documents
  • Researching statutes, cases and legal source material

The University's Paralegal Studies certificate, which has been approved by the American Bar Association, for more than 20 years, offers both general preparation for the profession and concentration in specific areas of the law. The program of study emphasizes theoretical and practical information in many important legal areas, such as the fundamentals of manual and computer based legal research, proficiency in communication and the development of the professional skill of "learning."

Articulation Agreements:

The Paralegal Studies program has Articulation Agreements with:

  • Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Cincinnati, OH,
  • Columbus State Community College, Columbus, OH,
  •  Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, Lawrenceburg, IN,
  • Edison Community College, Piqua, OH, and
  • Sinclair Community College, Dayton, OH

These agreements aid in the transfer of academic credits between schools.  For more information, please contact our Admissions Office.

News and Updates

Stay up to date with the most recent paralegal studies program news and events; visit the department of legal studies page. 

Institution Disclosures

Learn more about certificate programs offered by Mount St. Joseph University, including the minimum number of credit hours, cost estimates, related occupations, and loan information.

Program Requirements

Certificate in Paralegal Studies

Department Page

Department of Legal Studies

The Department of Legal Studies offers both general preparation and concentration in specific areas of the law for practicing paralegals

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